Leicester City enter talks with Monaco over Youri Tielemans

Youri Tielemans has scored five goals in 20 league appearanaces for Monaco this season (Image: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images)

Sign up to FREE email alerts from LeicestershireLive - Weekday Leicester City FC

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Leicester City have entered talks with Monaco over Belgian international Youri Tielemans as they look to bring in a midfielder before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

City had expected a quiet January, with manager Claude Puel expressing the difficulties of finding good deals in the winter window, but they could now make a last-gasp signing, with £20m-rated Tielemans the main target.

The highly-rated 21-year-old would be a significant coup for City, who are short of ball-playing options in the middle of the park with Vicente Iborra sold to Villarreal and Adrien Silva’s future still in doubt.

Latest January transfer news

Tielemans has been one of Europe’s most-talked-about talents since making his breakthrough at Anderlecht aged 16.

He won the league twice at his boyhood club before making the switch to Monaco in the summer of 2017.

While struggling to live up to high expectations in his first season, Tielemans has impressed this campaign, despite the principality club’s battle with relegation, scoring five goals in 20 league appearances.

Eden Hazard and Youri Tielemans of Belgium celebrate after recieving their third place medals after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia 3rd Place Playoff match between Belgium and England at Saint Petersburg Stadium (Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

He has also starred at international level, registering six assists in 19 caps, playing a role in Belgium’s run to third place at the World Cup in Russia.

Monaco have signed two other midfielders this window, bringing in Cesc Fabregas from Chelsea and William Vainqueur on loan, but made high-profile changes over the weekend, sacking manager Thierry Henry and re-appointing former coach Leonardo Jardim.